Iowa
Old Press
Washington Evening Journal
Washington, Washington co. Iowa
September 4, 1916
CULLOR CONFESSES KILLING OF SHERIFF
Young Man Who Was Captured At Keota Makes Full Confession of Deed
Homer M. Cullor, the young fellow who was captured at Keota a
week ago last Saturday and taken to Kansas to answer to the
charge of murdering Sheriff Walt Davis of Emporia, confessed to
the crime while on the way to Kansas in company with officers of
the law. Such is the word brought back by Mayor N. G. McNurlen of
Keota who accompanied the officers and their prisoner to Emporia.
When the train reached Kansas City detectives of the Kansas City
force were called and put Cullor thru a thorough sweating process
with the result that he made a full written confession of the
crime and detailed his movements since he left Emporia and came
to Keota. After making the confession he begged to be taken to
Emporia, saying that he didn’t care whether he were lynched
or not. Before making the confession he had been insistent that
he be taken somewhere else. The October term of court at Emporia
opens on October 3 and Cullor will be up for trial at that time.
It is certain that he will enter a plea of guilty and will no
doubt be sentenced to life imprisonment. After the trial the
reward of $1300 offered for Cullor’s arrest will be divided
between Marshall Samp Stephen of Keota will get a large
share of it. In his confession, h e told about coming to Emporia
from Dodge City, Kansas on August 15, the day before the murder.
There he secured a parcel post package of jewelry and sold part
of it in Emporia during the day. When the sheriff got on his
trail he shot and killed that official and wounded four others of
the posse. He claims that he did not steal any of the jewelry,
but that another man with whom he was associated did the
burglarizing. When Mr. McNurlen left Topeka, Cullor was in the
act of writing a long letter to his mother, Mrs. H. D. Green and
his sister Mrs. Minnie Hays, who teach in the western part of
this county.
NOBLE
September 2
Isaac Conrad is tearing down his old house, preparatory to
building a modern residence, Nick Roth and men have the contract.
The time is not far off when there will be no old houses in this
neighborhood. Everybody seems to be ambitious to have a modern
home. Why not? With plenty of money and beautiful locations, why
move to town and leave the farm to decline?
Miss Nettie Wittrig will open her school at Somers Monday
morning. Miss Swartz will begin her work at the Eicher school the
same day. Both of these schools are standard schools of which the
community is justly proud.
Noah Wittmer will go to Ames the first of the week to enroll as a
student the coming year.
Mr. and Mrs. Meeks and children returned Saturday evening from a
pleasant trip in their car to Memphis, Mo. They visited the
Robert Leeper family on their way home.
The Conrad reunion was held Thrusday at the Pete Boshart home.
The usual number of relatives were there to enjoy the picnic
dinner and visit relatives. there were families from Nebraska,
Washington, Kansas, Oregon and Ohio, making the trip especially
for the privilege of attending the reunion. A program was
rendered in the afternoon showing the ability of the
younger generation of this great family. Some sang songs, others
gave short talks. If you had been a stranger you might have
imagined you were at an afternoon session of Chautauqua.
Mrs. Fanny Graber went to Cairo, Ill., Monday to visit relatives
and attend the Mennonite Sunday school convention.
John Oxberger and family returned to their home in Mineir, Ill
after a week of visitng relatives in Noble. John Wittrig and
family went along home with them in the car.
Joe Widmer and wife of Oregon are here to attend the Conrad
reunion.
Harlan Cummings shipped a car of corn from Noble last week to
Burlington.
[transcribed by N.J., Nov. 2005]